Bore hole clam bucket

ABSTRACT

AN UPSTANDING FRAME INCLUDING A LOWER HORIZONTAL CROSS-BAR TO WHOSE OPPOSITE ENDS CORRESPONDING PORTIONS OF OPPOSING QUARTER CIRCULAR BUCKET SECTIONS ARE OSCILLATABLY SUPPORTED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BAR. THE BUCKET SECTIONS ARE SWINGABLE FROM ABUTTING POSITIONS DEFINING AN UPWARDLY OPENING HALF SPHERICAL BUCKET TOWARD OPEN POSITIONS WITH REMOTE PORTIONS THEREOF DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE AXIS OF OSCILLATION OF THE BUCKET SECTIONS SWUNG UPWARDLY WHEREBY A JAW OPENING IS FORMED BETWEEN THE LOWER OPPOSING MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE BUCKET SECTIONS. AN ACTUATOR IS SUPPORTED FROM THE FRAME AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE REMOTE UPWARDLY SWINGABLE PORTIONS OF THE BUCKET SECTIONS FOR SWINGING THE LATTER BETWEEN THE OPEN POSITIONS THEREOF AND THE CLOSED ABUTTING POSITIONS THEREOF.

Se t. 20, 1971 A. A. WEBER BORE HOLE CLAM BUCKET Filed Oct. 20, 1969 A/man A. Weber INVIiN'IOK.

United States Patent "ice 3,606,435 BORE HOLE CLAM BUCKET Alman A. Weber, P.O. Box 35564, Houston, Tex. 77035 Filed Oct. 20, 1969, Ser. No. 867,600 Int. Cl. B66c 3/00 US. Cl. 294-70 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Au upstanding frame including a lower horizontal cross-bar to whose opposite ends corresponding portions of opposing quarter circular bucket sections are oscillatably supported for swinging movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the bar. The bucket sections are swingable from abutting positions defining an upwardly opening half spherical bucket toward open positions with remote portions thereof disposed on opposite sides of the axis of oscillation of the bucket sections swung upwardly whereby a jaw opening is formed between the lower opposing marginal portions of the bucket sections. An actuator is supported from the frame and operatively connected to the remote upwardly swingable portions of the bucket sections for swinging the latter between the open positions thereof and the closed abutting positions thereof.

The bore hole bucket of the instant invention has been designed to provide a means whereby mud, water, silt, sand, loose rocks and fresh concrete may be removed from a previously excavated shaft or bore in the ground. In most operations wherein the bucket of the instant in vention may be used, reinforcing steel bars are disposed vertically around the outer perimeter of the bore. The bore hole bucket may be lowered into the bore while in a closed position without snagging or damaging the reinforcing steel bars or the horizontal spirals or hoops which interconnect the reinforcing steel bars. Further, the bore hole bucket may have its bucket sections swung from the open positions thereof to the closed positions thereof and back to the open positions without snagging or fouling the reinforcing steel bars or connecting spirals or hoops.

The bore hole bucket is constructed in a manner whereby its plan shape and size does not change during movement of the bucket sections thereof between open and closed positions. Further, the bucket is designed to be suspended from a single line which may be quickly lowered and raised in a bore hole and the actuator for the bore hole bucket comprises a double acting fluid cylinder to which hydraulic fluid under pressure may be provided by means of hydraulic hoses extending to the surface and which may be also quickly raised and lowered with the bore hole bucket.

It is intended that the bore hole bucket be actuated by hydraulic lines and a supporting cable which may be quickly disconnected and further that the double acting hydraulic cylinder will be of the type provided with adjustable ram stops. In this manner, the bore hole clam bucket can be adjusted to establish maximum open and closed positions of the bucket sections thereof. Further, the source of hydraulic fluid under pressure with which the double acting hydraulic cylinder of the bore hole bucket is operatively associated is to be designed in a manner whereby the speed, volume and pressure of hydraulic fluid to and from the double acting cylinder of the bore hole bucket may be adjusted as desired.

The main object of this invention is to provide a bore hole bucket for operation within a ground bore and which may be utilized to remove various fluent materials as Well as loose rocks and dirt from a bore hole.

3,606,435 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a bore hole bucket which will be operative to dig into, close upon and remove fluent materials in the bottom of a ground bore throughout an area substantially equal to the diameter of the bore in which the bucket is disposed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bore hole clam bucket which may be readily raised and lowered in an associated ground bore without snagging or fouling vertical reinforcing bars disposed about the bore and connected by horizontal spirals or hoops securing the reinforcing bars in relative positions.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a bore hole clam bucket in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bore hole clam bucket of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower portion of the bore hole clam bucket with the bucket sections thereof in partially open positions.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the bore hole clam bucket of the instant invention. The bucket 10 includes a frame referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and consisting of a pair of upstanding parallel longitudinal frame members 14 interconnected at their upper ends by means of an upper transverse member 16. The lower ends of the longitudinal members 14 are interconnected by means of a lower transverse member or crossbar or head 20 and the opposite ends of the crosshead 20 project outwardly beyond the remote sides of the longitudinal members 14. Further, a transverse mount 22 is secured between the upper end portions of the longitudinal members 1-4 below the upper end of the frame 12 and the cylinder portion 24 of a double acting hydraulic ram or cylinder referred to in general by the reference numeral 26 is secured to the member 22 by means of suitable fasteners 28.

An upwardly projecting lifting eye 30 is secured to and projects upwardly from the transverse member '16 and the lowgib end of a lifting cable 32 is secured to the lifting eye The crosshead 20 is tubular and an elongated pivot shaft 34 projects through the crosshead 20 and outwardly from the opposite ends thereof. A pair of quarter spherical bucket sections 36 and 38 are provided and include corresponding overlapped relieved portions 36' and 38' which are journaled on the corresponding ends of the pivot shaft 34. The weighting of the bucket sections 36 and 38 is such that they normally pivot by gravity to the closed positions thereof illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings with the bucket sections 36 and 38 defining a half spherical upwardly opening bucket. In addition, from FIG. 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the adjacent edge portions of the bucket sections 36 and 38' are beveled as at 36" and 38".

inverted channel-shaped crosshead 40 is secured to received between the corresponding ends of the cross-' arms 46. In addition, a pair of cross braces 48 are secured between corresponding end portions of the crossarms 46' immediately inwardly of the longitudinal members 14 whereby the remote surfaces of the cross braces 48 and the opposite ends of the crossarms 46 define upstanding endwise outwardly opening guide passages in which the longitudinal members 14 are slidingly received in order to limit lateral deflection of the lower end of the piston rod portion 42 toward either longitudinal member 14 or lateral deflection of the rod portion relative to the plane in which the members 14 are disposed and angular displacement of the rod portion 42 about its longitudinal axis.

The upper marginal edge portions of the bucket sections 36 and 38 each have a pair of peripherally spaced upwardly projecting mounting ears 50 secured thereto intermediate their opposite ends. Corresponding ends of a pair of elongated connecting links 52 are pivotally secured between the pairs of mounting ears 50 by means of pivot fasteners 54 and the other pair of corresponding ends of the connecting links 52 are pivotally secured to the opposite ends of the crosshead 40 by means of pivot fasteners 56.

As hereinbefore set forth, the hydraulic cylinder 26 is of fhe double acting type and has a pair of hydraulic lines 58 and 60 connected thereto through which hydraulic fluid under pressure may be pumped in order to extend and retract the piston rod portion 42 of the cylinder 26.

The bore hole clam bucket 10 may utilized to remove mud, water, silt, sand, loose rocks and fresh concrete from ground bores. In order to utilize the bucket 10, a lifting cable such as cable 32 is attached to the lifting eye 30 and the lifting cable 32 may be releasably connected, on its end remote from the lifting eye 30-, to any suitable winch cable by means of a quick disconnect connection. In addition, the hydraulic lines 58 and 60 may also be coupled to suitable hydraulic fluid supply lines (not shown) by similar quick disconnect connections and the bucket 10 may be lowered down into a ground bore from which fluent material is to be removed. In actual practice,

the bucket 10 is lowered into the ground bore with the bucket sections 38 and 36 in the closed positions thereof illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Then, after the bucket 10 has reached the bottom of the ground bore, it may be slightly raised and the hydraulic cylinder 26 may be actuated to retract theopiston rod portion 42 whereby the bucket sections 36 and 38 will be swung toward the open positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Then, the bucket 10 may be lowered into engagement with the bottom of the ground bore and the hydraulic cylinder 26 may be actuated so as to extend the piston rod portion 42 whereby the'bucket sections 36and 38 will be swung to the closed positions thereof illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Thereafter, the bucket 10 may be withdrawn. to the top of the bore and emptied before again being lowered down into the bore.

i In addition to the hydraulic cylinder 26 being sup-- ported from the transverse member 22, the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 26 is provided with an end cap 64 to which a pair of apertured mounting lugs 66 are securedoThe mounting lugs 66 project upwardly from the upper end of the end cap 64 and a depending rnounting lug 6-8 carried by the upper transverse member '16 is secured between the mounting lugs 66 by means of a suitable fastener 70. In this manner, not only is the hydraulic ncy e r fi su te m man ane e ment??? 22.1w also from the upper end of the frame defined by the longitudinal members 14 and the transverse member 16. In addition, it will be noted that the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 26 is supported from the underside of the mid-portion of the transverse member 16 in vertical alignment with the lifting eye 30 for the bucket '10 which is supported from the upper surface-f the midportion of the transverse member 16.

The foregoing is considered as illustrativeonly of the principles of the invention. Further,,' since numerous.

modifications and changes will readily'o ccur 'to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inventlon to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling'within the scope of the invention. t What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A bore hole clam bucket-comprising an upstanding support member including means at its upper endadapted to be suspended from a lifting cable, a crosshead -sup-" ported from the lower end ofthe support member 'and including opposite :end' portions which project outwardly from opposite sides of the support-member, a pair of' between said support member and said bucket sectionsfor' simultaneously and equally swinging said bucket sections between the open and closed positions thereof,

said support member including a pair of opposite side generally parallel upstanding members interconnected at their lower ends by means of said crosshead with the opposite ends of 'said crosshead projecting outwardly from remote sides of said upstanding members, means rigidly interconnecting the upper ends of said upstanding mem bers, said means connected between said support member and said bucket sections including a follower assembly slidably and guidingly engaged with said upstanding members for movement therealong, motor means operatively connected between said support member and said follower assembly for shifting the latter along said upstanding members, and elongated connecting links pivotally S61,

cured at one pair of corresponding ends to said follower assembly and diverging downwardly from the latterlant i pivotally secured at their lower ends to the upper marginal portions of said bucket sectionsintermediate'the opposite ends thereof, said follower assembly including a second crosshead disposed between said upstanding members and normal to the latter and the axis of oscillation of said bucket sections'fthe upper ends of said connecting links being pivotally secured to the corresponding ends of said second crosshead, said follower assemblyalso. comprising a pair of spaced apart generallylparallel crossarms se-. cured to said crosshead and generally paralleling said axis of oscillation of'said bucketnsections, said upstanding members being e'rnbracingly and slidingly received between'corresponding ends of said crossa rm, 'a pair of. cross braces secured between corresponding end portions of said crossarm's intermediate said upstanding members and the second mentioned crosshead with the remote surfaces of said cross braces closely opposing and disposed for sliding engagement with the opposing surfaces of said upw standing members.

2. The combination of claim 1 whereinsaid .rnotor means comprisesja double acting hydraulic cylindenconq,

nected between said supportjmenrber and 'said follower assembly. i i

- The Intimate aim 1.". vhen; drama; means and extendible and retractable hydrauli cylinder;

including a piston portion supported from said upstanding members and generally paralleling the latter, said hydraulic cylinder also including a piston rod portion extendible downwardly from the lower end of the cylinder portion and having its lower end secured to the second mentioned crosshead centrally intermediate its opposite ends.

4. A bore hole clam bucket comprising an upstanding support member including a pair of opposite side generally parallel members, means interconnecting the upper ends of said opposite side member and adapted to be suspended from a lifting cable, a crosshead extending and connected between lower ends of the lower ends of said opposite side members and including opposite end portions projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said opposite side members, a pair of generally quarter spherical bucket sections including adjacent opposing corresponding portions oscillatably supported from the opposite ends of the crosshead, said bucket sections being swingable between closed adjacent positions defining a half spherical upwardly opening bucket and open positions with the adjacent lower peripheral portions of the bucket sections swung upwardly and away from each other, means operatively connected between said support member and said bucket sections for simultaneously and equally swinging said bucket sections between the open and closed positions thereof, said means including a follower assembly slidably engaged with said upstanding members for movement therealong, motor means operatively connected between said support member and said follower assembly for shifting the latter along said upstanding members, elongated connecting links pivotally secured at one pair of corresponding ends to said follower assembly and diverging downwardly from the latter and pivotally secured at their lower ends to the upper marginal portions of said bucket sections intermediate the opposite ends thereof, said follower assembly including a second crosshead disposed between said upstanding members and normal to the latter and the axis of oscillation of said bucket sections, the upper ends of said connecting links being pivotally secured to the corresponding ends of said second crosshead, said follower assembly being horizontally elongated and extending between said upstanding members, the opposite end portions of said horizontally elongated follower assembly including upstanding endwise outwardly opening guide passages in which said longitudinal members are slidingly received in order to limit deflection of said follower assembly toward either opposite side parallel member as well as laterally of the upstanding plane in which the opposite side members are disposed and to further limit angular displacement of said follower assembly about an upstanding axis generally paralleling and disposed between said upstanding opposite side members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,740 2/1895 Pless 37-184X 2,109,598 3/1938 Stasinski et al. 37184X 3,156,496 11/1964 Davidson 294115X RICHARD AEGERTER, Primary Examiner D. D. WATTS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

